James Watt at the National Museum of Scotland

The Boulton and Watt engine on show at the National Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street in Edinburgh is one of the oldest surviving beam engines in the world.

The metal and wood structure – weighing 20 tonnes – was made in London by Scottish inventor James Watt and dates from 1786.

In this video, curator Ellie Swinbank tells you more about the exhibit, which is one of the key displays in the Science and Technology section of the museum.

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James Watt is the Scottish engineer and inventor who changed the world. His improvements to the steam engine drove the Industrial Revolution. His success was so great that a unit of power was named a Watt in his honour.

The year 2019 marks the 200th anniversary of Watt’s death and the 250th anniversary of Watt’s patent (to use a separate condenser to improve the efficiency of a steam engine).

It also highlights events celebrating Watt’s achievements, taking place in 2019, as details are confirmed.

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Efficiency was nothing to do with James Watt's invention although it was more efficient.
It was all to do with dumping Newcomen's Atmospheric Power and Arkwright's Water-Power for High Pressure Steam Power.
To achieve that he had to invent a new engine, the world's first PRACTICAL High Pressure Steam Powered Engine.
It was the one and only Invention that kicked off the Industrial Revolution.
It was a Power Revolution.
For the first time in human history we had something to replace, outperform and vastly outnumber the rare 2000 years old Water-Wheel.
Factories could multiply like bunnies, and that was only the beginning.
Before James Watt, despite 70 years of Newcomen's Atmospheric Pump and Water-Wheels, no Industrial Revolution.
During and after Watt's lifetime, an Industrial Revolution!